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  • Published: 15 August 2013
  • ISBN: 9781770495142
  • Imprint: Tundra Books
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

All Aboard!

Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine



In the second of Tundra's Great Idea Series, biographies for children who are just starting to read, Monica Kulling presents the life of an extraordinary man. There were few opportunities for the son of slaves, but Elijah McCoy's dreams led him to study mechanical engineering in Scotland. He learned everything there was to know about engines - how to design them and how to build them. But when he returned to the United States to look for work at the Michigan Central Railroad, the only job Elijah could get was shoveling coal into a train's firebox. Undaunted, he went on to invent a means of oiling the engine while the train was running, changing the face of travel around the world. With playful text and lively illustrations, All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine may be the first biography a child discovers, and it will whet the appetite for many more.

In the second of Tundra's Great Idea Series, biographies for children who are just starting to read, Monica Kulling presents the life of an extraordinary man. There were few opportunities for the son of slaves, but Elijah McCoy's dreams led him to study mechanical engineering in Scotland. He learned everything there was to know about engines - how to design them and how to build them. But when he returned to the United States to look for work at the Michigan Central Railroad, the only job Elijah could get was shoveling coal into a train's firebox. Undaunted, he went on to invent a means of oiling the engine while the train was running, changing the face of travel around the world. With playful text and lively illustrations, All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine may be the first biography a child discovers, and it will whet the appetite for many more.

  • Published: 15 August 2013
  • ISBN: 9781770495142
  • Imprint: Tundra Books
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

About the author

Monica Kulling

Louisa May Alcott was born in 1832 in Pennsylvania and grew up in Concord, Massachusetts. She is best known for her books for children. The daughter of philosopher and reformer Amons Bronson Alcott, she was also a supporter of women's rights and an abolitionist. Family debts led her to write the autobiographical novel LITTLE WOMEN (1868). The book was a huge success, followed by LITTLE MEN, AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL, and several other novels.

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Praise for All Aboard!

Praise for All Aboard!

"An engaging biography of the African-American inventor.... The narrative includes fictionalized dialogue and clear explanations about how the machinery works and concludes with an inspiring message.... Expressive watercolors, some full page and some full spread, capture the time period, allowing readers to imagine what life was like in this era, and add energy and touches of humor." - School Library Journal and Black History Month 2011: SLJ's Picks

"... The facts are well supported by the colourful pictures. McCoy's life is an inspiration to young people as it tells of his dream and passion for becoming an engineer... an excellent read aloud. These bold illustrations are full of action showing trains and people in motion and likely to keep young readers' interest. Highly recommended." - Resource Links